Women’s Conference for the West Stake was held on February 1, 2025.
Christmas ornaments were made for a service project to be given to survivors of disasters - fires and floods. All the ribbons, beads, felt, and yarn were provided and set out ready to be assembled. The Young Women and sisters made ribbon angels, red felt stockings, bead wreaths, gnomes and other Christmas decorations. They were placed in small bags with a note giving the name of our stake and a handwritten message on the back. Operationornaments.org was started in 2020 and has provided 124,000 handmade ornaments to those who have lost so many personal belongings. Christmas decorations are one thing people miss and feel deeply about after photos and journals. Kelly Clarkson started the project and along with others made ornaments to be given to brighten the lives of children and families letting them know they are remembered and loved.
Ornaments can be made and will be collected by the stake in September and will then be donated. You don’t have to be a crafter to make them as there are many simple suggestions. If your ward or the young women would like to make more there are suggestions and instructions on operationornaments.org or at justserve.org
The theme for the conference was Service. A QR code was given out and the sisters could text 3 words to describe service and then they were projected on the screen. Love was the main one with kindness, generosity, Christ like, caring, and many others. Five sisters shared personal stories of giving and receiving service.
Christie Perkins spoke about her young women’s leader and camp director, “Even though she was crippled with arthritis in her hands and legs, she taught us the skills and went on hikes with us. She emulated the Savior in her service. Because of her I have become what I am today.”
Jodi Hughes told of her grandmother who had rheumatic fever as a child and knew her life would be shorter. The grandmother said, “I want to make my life count, I am here to build others and be of service.” Jodi said it is transformative to reach outside of ourselves and find strength in giving. Her mother taught her that God trusts you do the work, it takes conscious effort to choose and be willing to help.
Bonnie Pollock told of a time when she felt overwhelmed with trying to go back to school in BYU Pathways and struggling with personal problems with her son. She had prayed for comfort. Sitting in the back before church began a sister came and greeting Bonnie spent time listening to her struggles. Bonnie said, “it didn’t solve the problems, but just having someone listen made the ‘sun come out’ and I could go on.” We can rely on help of Christ; we are not meant to do things alone – allow others to help.”
Jennifer Tichenor said she learned service at primary when they sang “Primary Colors are Red, Yellow and Blue” and yellow was for service. “I learned about service when we sang, Give Said
the Little Stream, Kindness Begins with Me, When We’re helping, We’re Happy, I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus and the hymn, Have I Done Any Good in the World today? And Because I Have Been Given Much” which inspires service. Service can be a smile or text message, or it can be rakes and shovels. My mother taught me service when I delivered food to the neighbors and when we went to visit people in rest homes. I liked the feelings I had when I did that.”
She thanked those that had come to her home to give service 20 years ago when a southbound semi tractor/trailer crossing the lanes of traffic on I-15 came down the embankment and destroyed her neighbor’s home and damaged hers.
Janarah Hollingshead who had been tasked with getting volunteers for the Temple Open House thanked those that had given service when called upon to serve as guides or putting on booties. “I was short volunteers sometimes, but I could always count on one family to come through and serve when the need arose.”
Janarah told about a short phone call she received when she was so sick with COVID but it lifted her spirits and helped her deal with the terrible illness. She said, “A sister that had been in our ward many years previously when Scenic and Bunkerville had been together called me and spoke a few minutes. It helped me so very much to know that someone cared enough to call.”
Kellee, her cousin, loved the 4th of July and liked to make homemade root beer. Kellee made it her last 4th of July even though she was very ill with cancer, and knowing how much her cousin enjoyed homemade root beer, brought her an extra-large cup. “I saved the cup and put Kellee’s picture on it in remembrance of the service Kellee was always giving to others,” said Janarah.
Another story of service that Janarah told was about her son Meb who was serving a mission in Finland and had a companion who didn’t want to work. “He was counting down the weeks to a transfer when he was assigned the companion for another 9 weeks! We encouraged him to focus on the good things that the companion did do which took great effort!”
The Young Women participated in a panel discussion about temple covenants and modest dress. Nicole Burnside, Emily Gleave and Sara Leavitt were the panelists for the discussion which included a Q&A for the young women to ask questions. The young women were complimented on their cute modest clothing. Classy clothes are modest clothes. When you wear modest clothing, you have more confidence, and your focus is on the event and other people’s ideas and conversation at the gathering. It has been found that you actually enjoy yourself more when you have modest clothing because you are not distracted with your own apparel. You don’t feel awkward around your friends, and you can concentrate on the activity more. The YW were encouraged to not get caught up in the world’s view of trendy fashion – your commitment is to Jesus Christ not to the fashions of the world.
The Spanish speaking sisters had a class taught by a Spanish speaking temple worker.
A delicious breakfast of eggs, ham and pancakes was cooked and served by the West Stake High Council members. Table were set with white cloth tablecloths and vases of bright sunflowers. All were treated to a large, decorated cookie in a sunflower bag and bracelet at the conclusion.
Thank you to the stake Relief Society for the meeting and service project – Kathy Abbott, Valorie Lystrup, Darlene Pierce and Chelsie Abbott.
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